Wellington Girls’ College Charitable Foundation (WGCCF) is an independent body, administered by a Board of Trustees with a mission to enhance the Wellington Girls’ College community and contribute to maintaining its heritage. Established in August 1992 by a Deed of Trust, the Foundation was set up to receive and administer funds and other property for the benefit of education in schools and other learning institutions administered by the school Board of Trustees. The Foundation has provision for up to 10 Trustees who are appointed for their business acumen and interest in the enhancement of education facilities at Wellington Girls’ College and in the heritage of the school. Trustees are appointed for a 3 year renewable term and we welcome expressions of interest from those who might be interested in this voluntary work.
Since inception the Foundation has acquired land and buildings on the school boundary at 2 Murphy Street and 30 Pipitea Street. These have been leased back to the school to use as the Language Centre and Student Services Centre. The Foundation has also built and gifted to the school a Sports Pavilion, and fitted out a Drama Room for student/teacher use.
The Foundation funds two annual scholarships, for the Dux and for sporting achievement, along with an annual scholarship for staff to travel overseas for professional development.
Significant funding and resource have been provided over the years to assist various Boards to fund feasibility studies for future building programmes, and the Foundation underwrote the 2008 School Jubilee. The Foundation funds and manages the school Alumni, issuing the School Ties newsletter to more than 9000 members of the Alumni twice yearly and fostering the growth of the Alumni in association with established, formal and informal groups of old girls nationwide and overseas.
From an operational perspective, the Foundation has funded and supported a number of school services:
• Alumni Database Co-ordinator
• Arts Co-ordinator
• Artist in Residence
• Archivist
• Business Development Manager
• French Assistant
• Tech Angels Co-ordinator
• Teacher Aide
• Website Co-ordinator
• Youth Worker
In 2010 the Foundation made available the land at 30 Pipitea Street for use as a formal entranceway to the school and forecourt to the new Pipitea Block. This resulted in the demolition of the two-storey building on the site which had become a local landmark, well recognised by students over many years and which had stood there since 1929.
In addition the Foundation gifted the school $1.2 million towards the cost of construction.
The Foundation welcomes bequests and gifts to help expand its capital resources which are prudently invested. The cash flow from these investments allows the Foundation to invest in activities that create richness and diversity in the school community and to provide the best possible environment for the education of young women.
Bequests or gifts may be cash, stocks, shares or other securities, property and real estate. Unless otherwise directed, bequests and major specific gifts are capitalised to preserve the capital and only the derived interest is used by the Foundation to fund the projects. The Foundation is happy to arrange assistance with the preparation of a Will and meet any costs required for the preparation of a standard Will that contains support for The Wellington Girls’ College Charitable Foundation.
Should you wish to learn more about the Foundation or wish to discuss making a bequest, a Trustee of the Foundation will be pleased to talk to you. You may contact our Business Development Manager at foundation@wellington-girls.school.nz or make contact through the Wellington Girls’ College office.